Biography of Robert Garcet
The pictures and texts are extracted from the book accompanying the exhibition "his work, his time and history".
The pictures and texts are extracted from the book accompanying the exhibition "his work, his time and history".
Robert Garcet was born in Ghlin (Mons, Belgium) on April 12th, 1912.
After several jobs (he worked in a pipe factory, in a flatting mill ...), he left the Borinage to settle down in the Geer valley. He was 18 years old.
He takes with him on his trip, the Bible of Segond that, throughout his whole life, he will consider as "The" Book.
He also carries with him images of rebellion and injustice inspired by his maternal grandfather experiences, a militant socialist from the first hour.
This latter heightened his awareness of social and political struggles.
The Geer valley is characterized by an exploitation of its soil and subsoil resources.
He works there as a quarryman’s apprentice, and then become a stone-cutter and finally a quarry manager.
His years of experience in quarrying give him a rarely equaled practical expertise.
Finally, he was able to read the geological strata as an open book.
He will say “one would say that this land was waiting for me”.
Robert Garcet also exhumed an impressive quantity of fossils, including the famous “mosasaurian” as well as remains of prehistoric humans.
His observations led him to the formulation of new theories on the origins of humans and on the famous "Stones Figures" or the worked Flints.
Concurrently to his historical and geological findings, Robert Garcet devoted a part of his life to pacifism and conscientious objection, thus confirming his total opposition to war!
In 1948 he laid the first stones of what became, in 1963, the Tower of Eben-Ezer.
Robert Garcet left us on December 26th, 2001.
Multifaceted artist, he left numerous books as well as an important pictorial work.
His findings and creations are exhibited at the Tower of Eben-Ezer.
We invite you to discover or rediscover them.